Plant genetic resources has great potential to address the emerging issues on climate change

1. Abdul GHAFOOR, PARC, Islamabad, PAKISTAN;
ghafoor59pk@yahoo.com
Potential of plant genetic resources in
sustainable agriculture in changing climate:
Strategies and management

2. Background
Plant genetic resources
Sustainable agriculture
Changing climate
Strategies and management
Agriculture and Food Security
Global program of research
Concluding remarks
Future avenues
Outline

3. Background

4. Plant-human interaction.
World population > 7 billion (Food
security); 2100 population will be 10-
14 billion and global food production?
Plant based food by developing
countries is > 80%
Developed countries is < 40%,
converted to animal sources.
Consumption or
utilization of PGR is
imperative for healthy
and peaceful society;
Noble peace prize to
“Norman Ernest
Borlaug” (1914 – 2009)
Increased demand
45% by 2030 (IEA)
Energy
Water
Increased demand
30% by 2030
(IFPRI)
Food
Increased demand
50% by 2030
(FAO)
Climate
Change
1.Increasing population
2.Changing diets
3.Losing land to
urbanization and
rising sea levels
4 Climate change

5. Current status of biodiversity
> 300,000 edible plant species, 7,000 used for
human consumption, 400 plant species are
domesticated.
12 plant species contribute >75% of global
intake of plant-derived calories and three
(wheat, rice, and maize) contribute 60 %
calories and 56 % protein from plants.
> 20,000 species are used for MAPs, > 600
MAPs in Pakistan.
Biodiversity loss is a threat to food security.
75 % diversity lost during last century; Natural and
induced intervention, urbanization, crop
improvement, Commercial cultivation,
climate change
STILL GOING ON!

6. Plant genetic resources

7. PGRFA
The only available resources for crop improvement
No nation is self-sufficient in PGRFA
Linearity with crop improvement
Green revolution
GMO
Future avenues (PGR utilization)
Climate change
Sustainable use
Genome editing
Diversification of crops
Healthy food security
Crops for Future, FSC; NUS

8. Challenges to PGR conservation and food
security
Human population growth, developing world!
Pollution, biotic and abiotic stresses
Habitat loss and degradation
Introduction of invasive alien species
Over-exploitation of bio-resources
Global climate change
Energy crisis
Poverty
Commercial trade
International trade of endemic species
Lack of awareness

9. Crop varieties with
better resistance to
biotic and abiotic
stresses ensured
food security in
Pakistan.
PGR flow in Pakistan for food security

10. Field genebank
Guava
Banana
Deciduous fruits
Banana
Basil
Mint
Medicinal herbs

11. In-vitro conservation
(top) and facilities for
regeneration of cross
pollinated plant
species (lower)

12. Global ex-situ PGR
Crop
Accessions in
genebanks
Percent
Landraces
Wheat 850,000 90
Rice 450,000 90
Corn 262,000 95
Sorghum 168,500 80
Soybeans 176,000 70
Common Beans 268,500 50
Potatoes 31,000 80-90
Cassava 28,000 35
Tomatoes 87,500 90
Squashes, Cucumbers, Gourds 30,000 50
Onions, Garlic 25,000 70
Sugarcane 27,500 70
Cotton 58,500 75

13. Sustainable agriculture

14. Crop Pakistan Worldwide
Wheat 149 > 10,000
Barley 10 > 1,200
Maize 32 > 6,500
Rice 45 > 12,000
Cotton 154 > 4,600
Sugarcane 46 -
Pulses 79 -
Oilseeds 66 -
Fodders 39 -
Vegetables 68 -
Fruits 48 -
Flowers 03 -
Total 739 -
Registered varieties

15. Accomplishment by BCI, NARC
Characterized > 60 percent PGR
Evaluated > 50 percent PGR
Screening against diseases 20 percent PGR
Screening against abiotic stresses > 1,000 (wheat, rice, Vigna)
Evaluated for quality 1,010 accessions
Varieties developed (used PGR) > 40 varieties (excluding wheat)
Varieties developed (by PGRI) 04 (Nigella, Vigna, corn)
Elite lines identified >100
Advanced lines 10
Wheat landraces with high Zn 11298, 11211 (> 40ppm Zn)
Research papers > 500
Papers presented > 150
Students supervised Ph.D. (24), M. Phil. (> 60), Internees (> 300)
Lab Manual Seven
Catalogues Ten
Trainings/workshops Twenty
Projects executed Eleven

16. Crop, Characters of interest Varieties
Rice Varieties (quality) Basmati 385, Kashmir Basmati
Plant type Pk–0000335
Yield potential Pk–0003358
Early ness Pk–0003058
Maize Early ness Pk–0071103, Pk–0071557, Pk–0071058
Wheat Drought tolerance Pak–0018170, Pk–0018188
Chickpea Yield potential Punjab 2000, Bittal, Dashat
Blight Dasht, NIFA 88, Balkasar, Wanhar, 97047, 924043
Mungbean Yield potential NCM 209
ULCV 98-CMH-016, NM- 2, BRM- 195
Black gram High yielding, resistant to
MYMV
Mash 1, Mash 2, Mash 3
Dual season cultivar NARC Mash 2014
Charcoal rot Pk–45718, Pk–45719, Pk–45721, Pk - 45731
ULCV VH 9440039-3, ES- 1,
Lentil Yield potential Pk-40688, Pk-40757, Pk-40787
Cowpea Yield potential 27003, 27009, 27044, 27082, 27097, 27123, 27147,
27167, 27171
BICMV Pk–27168, Pk– 27192
Pea Yield potential 10603, 10607, 10610, 10645, 10646
Powdery mildew Pk–10603, Pk– 10628
Vigna unguiculata Variety Dera moth
Utilization of PGR in crop improvement

17. BCI database
Catalogue
Reports
Broachers
Lab manuals
Articles
News paper articles
Peer review
Farmers’ guidelines
Postgraduate thesis

18. Replenishment of PGRFA
Mingora, Swat (IDPs)
RARI, Bahawalpur (flood)
Pirsabak (flood)
Individual researchers

19. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 17 SDG, 1
January 2016.
Genetic resources/seed are the priority areas of FAO under
Sustainable Development Goals, particularly for achieving SDG
1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 13, 15 & 17 directly or indirectly.

20. Changing climate

21. Global climate change scenario

22. Climate-vulnerable developing countries with low incomes, hunger and
poverty will be the most affected
20 - 40% declines in overall agricultural productivity in case of >2 °C rise
Extreme events and migration of pests and diseases
Major driver of biodiversity loss, including genetic erosion
Inter-dependence among countries on PGRFA will increase
Genetic diversity will underpin adaptation to climate change in food and
agriculture. long-term efforts and investments are required
Bio-diverse agro-ecosystems improve resilience and energy efficiency
Community based management of agricultural biodiversity and crop
productivity is critical to local adaptation
But...Genetic diversity is still overlooked in the Climate Change
negotiations
Climate change, PGRFA and food security

23. Strategies and management

24. Conserve PGRFA most threatened by climate change
Long-term program for characterization, evaluation and
breeding of climate-ready PGRFA and cultivars
Strengthen community based agricultural management along
with biodiversity management for adaptation
Develop ABS policies, particularly for endemic species
PBR Act and Seed Act Amendments
Integrate genetic diversity and food security in the climate
change negotiations
Dialogue between international forums and national agencies
Financial support to cope with climate change and encourage
conservation and use of genetic diversity
HRD
Strategies to cope with climate change

25. Global program of research

26. Global commitments and compliance
ITPGRFA, CBD, NP and has ratified Kyoto Protocol.
The PBR Act 2015 approved and Access to Genetic
Resources and Benefit-sharing Act, 2012 is under process.
Germplasm is being shared under SMTA for R & D.
PGRFA shared under SMTA, MLS and ITPGRFA, ABS not
yet in practice.
World Earth Day [April 22].

27. International undertaking on PGRFA
Protect the rapidly eroding genetic resources which
strengthen global and local food security.
Keep these genetic resources in the public domain and
facilitate access.
Ensure the implementation of Farmers’ Rights for a
reasonable share of the benefits from the commercial use of
these resources.
Global awareness
2010-2020: Decade of
Biodiversity
2010: Year of Biodiversity
2011: Year of Forests
2016: Year of pulses
2017: Year of tourism
2019: Year of millets
IFPRI’s 2020 Vision: A World Free from Hunger
Access to sufficient food for healthy life.
No malnutrition.
Food from efficient, effective, and low-cost
systems.
Food production compatible with
sustainable natural-resource use.

28. YEAR 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
Plant
Genetic
Resources
Update of
The State
of the
World’s
PGR
Update of
Global Plan
of Action
PGR
Update of
The State of
the World’s
PGR
Genetic Resources, Food Security and Climate Change in FAO:
the Multi-year Programme of Work of the Commission

29. YEAR 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
Cross-
sectorial
matters
ABS for
PGRFA
Application of
biotechnologies
in conservation
and sustainable
utilization of
GRFA
Climate
change and
genetic
resources for
food and
agriculture
Targets and
indicators for
biodiversity for
food and food
and agriculture
Ecosystem
approach to
biodiversity
management
in agriculture,
forestry and
fisheries
Biodiversity for
food and
agriculture and
the
achievement
of the MDG
Presentation
of The State of
the World’s
Biodiversity for
Food and
Agriculture
The Commission’s Multi-Year Programme of Work: Major Outputs and Milestone

30. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 17 SDG, 1
January 2016.
Genetic resources/agriculture are the priority areas of FAO
under Sustainable Development Goals, particularly for achieving
SDG 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 13, 15 & 17 directly or indirectly.

31. Agriculture and Food Security

32. Challenges for food security in climate
change scenario
PGRFA/CWR gap filling, evaluation and utilization?
Knowledge of inter and intra-specific diversity
Inter and intra-species relationships
Strong breeding program and funding sources
Research infrastructure
Pakistan scenario? CWR scope for developing
PGRFA resilience to climate change – use in pre-
breeding……
“Use of CWR is limited due to high complexity of
traits, time-duration, linkage of desirable genes with
undesirable ones”

33. Unlocking genetic potential of CWR for benefit of
the society under climate change
1.Diversity assessment
2.Novel techniques [somatic hybridization, anther culture, embryo
rescue]
3.Advanced biotechnology [MAB, MAS, Mapping, QTL, genomics]
4.Introgression libraries
5.Association studies
6.Genetic transformation
7.Genome editing
Resulting in nutritious food security particularly
under the climate change scenario

34. CWR
Landraces &
obsolete cultivars
Traditional
cultivars with farmers
Commercial
varieties
CWR to mitigate climate change, yet to harness

35. New era of CWR utilization
Utilization of CWR for stresses [heat, cold, drought,
waterlogging, salinity, diseases, pests, floods, allergens],
nutrition and quality
Climate change
Tracing ancestral phylogeny
Evolution and ethno-botany
Second generation food security
Expanding food basket

36. Concluding remarks

37. 20 - 40% declines in agricultural productivity, pests and
diseases
Climate change, major driver of biodiversity loss/genetic
erosion
PGR will be the only solution to address climate change
issues
Community based PGR management of agricultural
biodiversity is needed to support
Future avenues for climate resilience crop varieties in
problem soils
In-situ conservation in-line-with evolution and networking of
PGRFA stakeholders to address climate change issues
Trees, forest, animal, fisheries and microbial genetic
resources conservation
Aquatic plants, parasitic/hemi-parasitic plants conservation
Plant Product R & D (Extraction and analytical)
Food security in the era of climate change

38. Integrated approach for PGR utilization for
developing climate resilience crop varieties
Era of third generation biotechnology/genetic engineering.
Traits specificity, largely because of the complexity of traits,
i.e., socio-economic traits, allergens.
Genetic variants created and selected by nature over millions
of years and conserved in genebanks, however remained
untapped! Biotech has promise.
Utilization of the CWR plants in genebanks.
Molecular mapping and ability to scan the genomes of wild
species for new and useful genes.
Are we prepared to unlock the genetic potential of hidden bio-
treasurers in the genebanks including CWR.
Extensive academic, research and public-private partnership

39. Mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable agriculture and
food security particularly in the era of climate change
Regional networking for PGRFA stakeholders and sharing of
information & PGRFA
R & D on CFF to ensure nutritious food security
Understanding SDGs and international policies
Joint venture on PGRFA evaluation, utilization and genebank
management
Multi-disciplinary team work
Work together to achieve happy healthy farmers and
ecosystems in the ONLY LIVING GLOGE
Awareness for all
Take-home message

40. Future avenues

41. Future programs to safeguard food security
Multi-sectorial approaches (Regional coordination)
Mainstreaming PGRFA and climate change in national
programs
Global/regional networks on PGRFA and R & D on CWR to
address climate change issues
Participatory breeding approach, monitoring and early warning
systems on disasters & genetic erosion
Interactive database on PGRFA management and utilization
Training, education and raising awareness
Inter-continental collaborative projects on PGRFA evaluation
and utilization to solve the global issue of climate change

42. Future prospects
Gap filling of CWR, collect, characterize, document,
utilize.
Emerging demand for novel genes for biotic & abiotic
stresses, quality, climate resilience and bio-fortification.
Genome mapping and synteny of the genes sequenced
for encoding abiotic stress tolerance and can be utilized in
crop improvement.
Potential of genetic transformation from the tertiary gene
pool and/or beyond.
Big data handling, new breeding strategies and
bioinformatics tools are required to use the information
from omics for complex traits more effectively.
CWR faced the maximum load of climate effects, hence

43. Gene-pools for climate change threatened, and how can they
be conserved to ensure their continuing availability?
How do cultural practices affect diversity and how can farmers’
knowledge be used to identify landraces and crop varieties
suited for specific climatic conditions?
How can access to crop diversity local farmers be facilitated?
How crop diversity in production systems contribute to
productivity in face of progressive climate change?
What are major causes and challenges of climate change?
Can agriculture stand up to a 2º C warmer world?
PGR threatened by climate change, what strategy to collect
and conserve?
CWR use on the increase, but poorly conserved ex-situ and
under threat in-situ
Need to fill gaps, and explore novel genetic approaches
Still unsolved

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_slides_077en.pdf
Make reading the habit for prosperous Pakistan

45. "Every time we lose a species we break a
life chain which has evolved over 3.5 billion
years"
(Jeffrey McNeely)